Packaging for retaining and displaying hair bands

ABSTRACT

Packaging for looped articles includes a foldable display element having a first panel adapted for side-by-side retention of the looped articles. The foldable display element further includes second, third and fourth panels and fold lines between the panels to form a box-like structure in which the first panel overlies the second panel and the third and fourth are between the first and second panels opposite each other. A tab panel extending from the first panel is received by a slot in a tab-receiving panel at an opposite end of the display element. The packaging may also include a support ring having a discontinuity extending through its cross section for interlinking receipt of the looped articles. A loop-securing band is received through each of the looped articles and includes opposite ends that are overlapped and secured to each other to define a closed loop interlinked with the articles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to packaging and more particularlyto packaging for display of looped articles, such as hair bands and thelike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Accessories for hair include bands in the form of loops. A commonvariety of hair band known as a “scrunchie” comprises loops ofextensible material that are designed to be stretched and wrapped aroundgathered hair to form a pony tail, for example. The hair bands mayinclude outer covering on an elastic core element. The outer coveringmay be enlarged with respect to the elastic core element such that theouter covering defines decorative gathers of material when compressed bythe elastic core.

[0003] Prior art packaging for display of extensible, looped, hairbands, include display elements typically made of paperboard. The priorart display elements include a planar portion on which each of a set ofhair bands to be displayed is placed in a side-by-side manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] According to the present invention, there is provided packagingfor displaying a plurality of looped articles. According to oneembodiment of the invention, there is provided a foldable displayelement including a first panel having opposite sides and opposite endsadapted to receive each of the looped articles such that the loopsencircle the first panel in a side-by-side arrangement. The foldabledisplay element further includes second and third panels having oppositeends, the third panel located between the first and second panels. Firstand second fold lines extend along adjoining ends of the first and thirdpanels and the second and third panels, respectively, such that thefirst panel overlies at least a portion of the second panel when thedisplay element is folded. The foldable display element further includesa fourth panel having opposite ends and located opposite the third panelwith respect to the second panel. A third fold line extends alongadjoining ends of the second and fourth panels such that the foldabledisplay element forms a box-like structure when folded in which thethird and fourth panels are substantially parallel to each other onopposite ends of the first and second panels.

[0005] The foldable display element also includes a tab panel extendingfrom an end of the first panel at one end of the display element and atab receiving panel adjacent the fourth panel at an opposite end of thefoldable display element. The tab receiving panel includes an elongatedslot adapted to receive at least a portion of the tab panel.

[0006] According to another embodiment of the invention, the packagingincludes a support member defining a substantially toroidal ring. Thesupport member includes a discontinuity extending through a crosssection of the support member to define opposite and adjacent ends forinterlinking receipt of the loops by the support member. The packagingfurther includes an elongated loop securing member received through eachof the looped articles. The loop securing member includes oppositesurfaces and opposite end portions. The end portions overlap each othersuch that the opposite surfaces contact one another to define a closedloop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of packaging according to thepresent invention shown supporting hair bands;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hair band mounting member of thepackaging of FIG. 1 shown in an unfolded condition;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hair band mounting member ofFIG. 2 shown in a partially folded condition;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hair band mounting member ofFIG. 2 shown in a fully folded condition;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the hair bands and packagingof FIG. 1; and

[0014]FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment ofpackaging according to the present invention shown supporting hairbands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Referring to the drawings, where like numerals identify likeelements, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a packaging assembly 10according to the present invention for retaining and displaying a set oflooped articles such as hair bands 12. Examples of looped articles forwhich the present invention has application are hair bands known as“scrunchies” such as those disclosed in Design Patent No. Des. 292,030issued Sep. 22, 1987. Each of the hair bands 12 includes an elasticelement (not shown) enclosed within a decorative sheath 14. As shown,the material of the sheath is drawn together by the elastic element toform gathers. The sheath 14 may vary from that shown in the figures andmay be enlarged with respect to the elastic element such that thematerial of the sheath has more of a frill-like appearance.

[0016] Although the packaging assembly 10 is shown in the figure withhair bands 12 comprising endless loops, the present invention is not solimited. The invention has application, for example, to looped articlesthat are formed from extensible lengths having ends that are secured toeach other, as by hook and loop connectors for example.

[0017] The packaging assembly 10 includes a hair band mounting member16. The hair band mounting member 16 is preferably made from a sheet offoldable material such as paperboard. Referring to FIG. 2, the mountingmember 16 is shown in an unfolded condition in the form of a blank. Thesheet has a first surface 17 and an opposite second surface 19 (FIGS. 3and 4). The mounting member 16 includes a first panel 18 having oppositesides 22 defining a hair band receiving portion of the mounting member.The first panel 18 of mounting member 16 receives each of the hair bands12 such that the loop defined by the hair band encircles panel 18. Theheight of the first panel 18 is such that it provides for engagementbetween the hair bands 12 and the first panel 18 without excessivestretching of the elastic elements of the hair bands 12. The first panel18 retains the hair bands 12 in a side-by-side arrangement, as shown inFIG. 1.

[0018] The hair band mounting member 16 further includes a second panel24 separated from the first panel 18 by a third panel 26. The mountingmember 16 includes a crease line 28 extending along adjoining ends ofthe first and third panels 18, 26. The mounting member 16 also includesa crease line 30 extending along adjoining ends of the second and thirdpanels 24, 26. The mounting member 16 further includes a fourth panel 32located opposite the third panel 26 with respect to the second panel 24.A crease line 34 extends along adjoining ends of the second and fourthpanels 24, 32. As shown, the distance between the opposite ends of thethird and fourth panels 26, 32 is small in comparison with that of thefirst and second panels 18, 24.

[0019] The mounting member 16 further includes a tab panel 36 extendingfrom an end 38 of the first panel 18 opposite the third panel 26. Themounting member 16 also includes a tab receiving panel 40 extending froman end 42 of the fourth panel 32 opposite the second panel 24 such thatthe tab panel 36 and the tab receiving panel 40 are located at oppositeends of the mounting member 16. A crease line 44 extends along the endof first panel 18 at the junction between the first panel 18 and the tabpanel 36. Similarly, a crease line 46 extends along the end of thefourth panel 32 at the junction between the fourth panel 32 and the tabreceiving panel 40.

[0020] The tab panel 36 of the mounting member 16 includes a middleportion 48 extending from the first panel 18 and end portions 50extending from opposite sides of the middle portion 48. Crease lines 52extend across the tab panel 36 between the middle portion 48 and the endportions 50 of tab panel 36. The mounting member 16 also includes a slot54 extending in the tab receiving panel 40 adjacent the adjoining endsof the tab receiving panel and the fourth panel 32. The slot extends fora length approximately equal to, but slightly larger than, that of themiddle portion 48 of the tab panel 36 to provide for receipt of the tabpanel 36. For reasons to be described in greater detail below, the widthof the slot is approximately equal to, but slightly larger than, twicethe thickness of the tab panel 36 to provide for receipt of the tabpanel 36.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the principal steps involved informing the folded mounting member 16 shown in FIG. 1, from the unfoldedblank shown in FIG. 2, are illustrated. The blank is folded along foldlines 28 and 30 such that the third panel 26 is substantiallyperpendicular to the first and second panels 18, 24 and the first panel18 is substantially parallel to, and overlies, the second panel 24. Theblank is also folded along crease line 34 such that fourth panel 32 issubstantially perpendicular to the second panel 24. As shown in FIG. 5,the folded condition for mounting member 16 resembles a box forcontaining a portion of the hair bands 12. With respect to the viewshown in FIG. 1, the first panel 18 defines a front panel of the box,the second panel 24 defines a rear panel of the box and the third andfourth panels 26, 32 define opposite side panels of the box. As shown inFIG. 5, the relatively short distance between the ends of the third andfourth panels 26. 32 with respect to the first and second panels 18, 24forms a rectangular box having relatively long sides and relativelyshort ends.

[0022] The blank is further folded along crease lines 44 and 46. The tabpanel 36 is then folded along fold lines 52 such that the end portions50 overly the middle portion 48. The above-described dimensions providedfor the slot 54 allow for receipt of the tab panel 36 in the foldedcondition by the tab receiving panel 40. With the tab panel 36 receivedby the slot 54, the end portions 50 are extended as shown in FIG. 4 toretain the tab panel within the slot 54 to maintain the folded conditionfor the mounting member 16 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0023] Referring again to FIG. 1, the packaging assembly 10 furtherincludes a support member 56 substantially toroidal forming a ring-likemember. The support ring 56, however, does not define a closed loop andincludes a discontinuity 58 extending through the cross section of thering-like member 56 to form opposite and adjacent ends 60, 62 (FIG. 7).The discontinuity 58 provides for receipt of the set of looped hairbands 12 by the support ring 56 through the discontinuity 58 such thatthe set of hair bands 12 and the support ring 56 are joined in aninterlinking manner.

[0024] The support ring 56 preferably has a cross-section that is aclosed-form solid such as the circular cross section seen in FIGS. 6 and7. The support ring is preferably made from an acrylic polymer material.To facilitate the interlinking of the support ring 56 with the set ofhair bands 12, the support ring 56 is preferably formed such that theopposite and adjacent ends are normally offset from one another as seenin FIG. 7.

[0025] The support ring 56 is receivable by a display hook, or the like,for hanging display of the set of hair bands by packaging assembly 10.The support ring 56 may be rotated with respect to the hair bands 12from the orientation shown in the figures in which the discontinuity 58is the remotest portion of the ring with respect to the hair bands. Suchrotation of the support ring 58 would facilitate its retention on adisplay hook or the like. Rotation of the support ring 56 ofapproximately 180 degrees with respect to the hair bands 12 wouldfurther provide the benefit of concealment of the discontinuity 58 bythe hair bands 12.

[0026] The packaging assembly 10 further includes a loop securing member64 preferably made from plastic. As best seen in FIG. 5, the loopsecuring member 64 consists of a band having opposite first and secondsurfaces 65, 67. The loop securing band 64 also includes opposite endportions 66, 68. The loop securing band 64 is inserted through the loopsdefined by the set of hair bands 12 for interlink between the loopsecuring band 64 and the set of hair bands 12 as seen in FIG. 5. The endportions 66, 68 overlapped with one another such that surface 65 of endportion 66 contacts surface 67 of end portion 68. The end portions 66,68 are secured to one another, such as by an adhesive between thesurfaces 65, 67, such that the loop securing band 64 defines a closedloop. The interlinking between the loop securing band 56 and the set ofhair bands 12, therefore differs from that between the support ring 56and the set of hair bands 12 in the following manner. Once the endportions 66, 68 are secured to one another, the individual hair bands 12cannot be separated from the set of hair bands 12 until the connectionbetween the end portions 66, 68 is broken or the loop securing band 64is severed.

[0027] The loop securing band 64 is preferably interlinked with theexposed portions of the hair bands 12 such that the loop securing band64 is positioned forwardly of the mounting member 16 as seen in thefront elevational view of FIG. 1 and the sectional view of FIG. 5. Inthis forward position, the loop securing band 64 will be locatedadjacent surface 19 of the hair band receiving portion 18 opposite thesecond panel 24 when the mounting member is in the folded condition asbest seen in FIG. 5. Such forward positioning of the loop securing band64 facilitates use of the loop securing band 64 for displaying productindicia. It is also desirable that the overlapping end portions 66, 68of the loop securing band 64 be positioned between the hair band 12 andthe hair band receiving portion 18 as seen in FIG. 5. The overlapped endportions 66, 68 are concealed by the hair bands 12 when the loopsecuring band 64 is positioned in this manner.

[0028] The mounting member 16 is shown in FIG. 4 without the hair bands12 to facilitate the illustration of the folding of mounting member 16.For the folded condition shown in FIG. 1 in which the hair bands aremounted on the mounting member, the hair bands 12 must be received bythe hair band receiving portion 18 at least prior to the step ofinserting the tab panel 36 within the slot 54. The support ring 56 maybe interlinked with the hair bands 56 either before or after the hairbands 12 are received by the hair band receiving portion 18 and eitherbefore or after the tab panel 36 is engaged with slot 54. Similarly, thehair band loop securing band 64 may be interlinked with the set of hairbands 12 either before or after the hair bands 12 are received by thehair band receiving portion 18 and either before or after the tab panel36 engages the slot 54.

[0029] Although mounting member 16 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5-7 as partof packaging assembly 10, the mounting member 16 could be usedseparately for displaying a set of hair bands. A slot or opening in thesecond panel could be provided for receiving a hook of a display rack,or the like, to support the mounting member 16.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown an alternative embodiment ofpackaging 80 according to the present invention. The packaging 80includes a support ring 56. The support ring is identical to the supportring 56 of the previous figures having a discontinuity 58 definingopposite ends 60 and 62 for interlinking between the ring 56 and a setof hair bands 12. The packaging 80 also includes a loop securing band64. The loop securing band 64 is identical to the loop securing member64 of the previous figures having opposite end portions (not shown) thatare overlapped to interlink the loop securing member 64 and the set ofhair bands 12. The packaging 80 does not include a mounting memberformed from a foldable material. The interlinking of the loop securingband 64 with the set of hair bands 12 in the packaging 80 of FIG. 8prevents the separation of one or more of the hair bands 12 from the setof hair bands 12. Because of the discontinuity 58 in the support ring56, the hair bands 12 could be separated from one another absent theinterlinking securement provided by the loop securing band 64.

What is claimed is:
 1. A foldable display element for retaining anddisplaying a plurality of articles each defining a closed loop, thefoldable display element comprising: a first panel having opposite sidesand opposite ends, the first panel adapted to receive each of thearticles such that the closed loop encircles the first panel, the firstpanel providing for retention of the articles in a side-by-sidearrangement; a second panel having opposite ends; a third panel havingopposite ends, the third panel located between the first and secondpanels, the foldable display including a first fold line extending alongadjoining ends of the first and third panels and a second fold lineextending along adjoining ends of the second and third panels such thatthe first panel overlies at least a portion of the second panel when thedisplay element is folded; a fourth panel having opposite ends, thefourth panel located opposite the third panel with respect to the secondpanel, the foldable display including a third fold line extending alongadjoining ends of the second and fourth panels such that the foldabledisplay element forms a box-like structure when folded in which thethird and fourth panels are substantially parallel to each other onopposite ends of the first and second panels; a tab panel extending froman end of the first panel opposite the third panel; and a tab receivingpanel adjacent the fourth panel opposite the second panel such that thetab panel and the tab receiving panels are located on opposite ends ofthe display element, the tab receiving panel including an elongated slotadapted to receive at least a portion of the tab panel.
 2. A foldabledisplay element according to claim 1 wherein each of the displayedarticles is a hair band.
 3. The foldable display element according toclaim 2, further comprising a fourth fold line extending along ajunction of the first panel and the tab panel and a fifth fold lineextending along a junction of the fourth panel and the tab receivingpanel.
 4. The foldable display element according to claim 2, wherein theelongated slot of the tab receiving panel is located adjacent thejunction of the tab receiving panel and the fourth panel.
 5. Thefoldable display element according to claim 2, wherein a distancebetween the opposite ends of third panel and a distance between theopposite ends of the fourth panel are relatively small with respect tothat of the first and second panels such that the box-like structureformed by the foldable display element has a rectangular cross sectionhaving relatively long sides and relatively short ends.
 6. The foldabledisplay element according to claim 2, further including fifth and sixthfold lines extending across the tab panel to define a middle portion andopposite end portions of the tab panel, and wherein the slot of the tabreceiving panel has a length and a width adapted to receive the tabpanel when the tab panel is folded along the fifth and sixth fold lines.7. Packaging for retaining and displaying a plurality of articles eachdefining a loop, the packaging comprising: a support member comprising asubstantially toroidal ring, the substantially toroidal ring including adiscontinuity defining opposite and adjacent ends to facilitateinterlinking receipt of the loops by the support member; and anelongated loop securing member received through each of the loops, thesecuring member having opposite end portions and opposite surfaces, theopposite end portions of the loop securing member overlapping each othersuch that the opposite surfaces contact one another to define a closedloop.
 8. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the cross sectionof the support member is solid.
 9. The packaging according to claim 1,wherein the cross section of the support member is circular.
 10. Thepackaging according to claim 1, wherein the opposite ends of the supportmember defined by the discontinuity are normally offset from each other.11. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the loop securing membercomprises a band having opposite surfaces and opposite ends and whereinthe opposite surfaces contact each other at the opposite ends.
 12. Thepackaging according to claim 11, wherein the opposite ends of the loopsecuring member are secured to one another by an adhesive locatedbetween the opposite surfaces.
 13. The packaging according to claim 2,further comprising a mounting member including a substantially planarhair band receiving portion, each of the hair band loops encircling thehair band receiving portion such that the hair band loops are retainedby the hair band receiving portion in a side-by-side arrangement. 14.The packaging according to claim 13, wherein the mounting membercomprises a foldable sheet including a first panel defining the hairband receiving portion, the first panel having opposite ends, thefoldable sheet further comprising second and third panels each havingopposite ends, the third panel located between the first and secondpanels, the foldable sheet including a first fold line extending alongadjoining ends of the first and third panels and a second fold lineextending along adjoining ends of the second and third panels, the foldlines providing a folded condition for the foldable sheet in which thefirst panel overlies at least a portion of the second panel.
 15. Thepackaging according to claim 14, wherein the foldable sheet furthercomprises a fourth panel having opposite ends, the fourth panel locatedopposite the third panel with respect to the second panel, the foldablesheet including a third fold line extending along adjoining ends of thesecond and fourth panels such that the foldable sheet forms a box-likestructure when folded in which the third and fourth panels aresubstantially parallel to each other on opposite ends of the first andsecond panels.
 16. The packaging according to claim 15 wherein thefoldable sheet further comprises a tab panel extending from an end ofthe first panel opposite the third panel and a tab receiving paneladjacent the fourth panel opposite the second panel such that the tabpanel and the tab receiving panels are located on opposite ends of thefoldable sheet, the tab receiving panel including an elongated slotadapted to receive at least a portion of the tab panel.
 17. Thepackaging according to claim 16 wherein the tab panel of the foldablesheet includes a pair of fold lines extending across the tab panel todefine a middle portion and end portions for the tab panel, the endportions extending from opposite ends of the middle portion such thateach of the end portions will overly the middle portion when the tabpanel is folded along the pair of fold lines, the slot of the tabreceiving panel having a width adapted for receipt of the folded tabpanel, the slot further having a length adapted such that the endportions of a tab panel received by the slot will inhibit separation ofthe tab panel from the tab receiving panel when the end portions of thereceived tab panel are unfolded.
 18. An assembly for supporting anddisplaying a plurality of looped articles, the assembly comprising: adisplay box having opposite front and rear panels and opposite sidepanels located between the front and rear panels, the front panel beingremoveably secured to one of the side panels, the plurality of loopedarticles received by the front panel such that each of the loopedarticles encircles the front panel; a support ring having a crosssection, the support ring including a discontinuity extending throughthe cross section to define opposite and adjacent ends, thediscontinuity of the support ring providing for receipt of the supportring by each of the looped articles in an interlinked manner; anelongated article securing band having opposite surfaces and oppositeend portions, the securing band received through each of the loopedarticles, the opposite end portions of the article securing bandoverlapping each other such that the opposite surfaces contact eachother to define a closed loop.